News

Taken in the fall of 1931 from the Clock Tower Building on Arsenal Island, this photograph shows the formation of the lock walls for the main lock chamber at Locks and Dam 15. It also shows the Government Bridge and the downtown Davenport, Iowa riverfront. Photograph provided courtesy of The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District.

You are cordially invited to the Sixth Annual Quad Cities Henry Farnam Dinner celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the completion of Locks and Dam 15 at Rock Island.

CLICK HERE for a dinner invitation and mail-in reservation form. Mail the form to River Action, P.O. Box 963, Davenport, IA 52803.

CLICK HERE to make your reservation online. (You will receive a confirmation via email.)

A pictorial history of the first railroad bridge across the Mississippi River and its three successors

by Curtis C. Roseman

When the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad was completed in 1854 under the direction of Henry Farnam and his partner Joseph Sheffield, it became the first to connect the East with the Mississippi River. This map shows the completion dates at various points along the route westward from Chicago. One of the reasons this route was chosen was the relative ease with which the Mississippi could be bridged at Rock Island. This reach of the Mississippi River, the location of the Rock Island Rapids, is geologically youthful. Its narrow channel with a limestone island (Rock Island) could be used as a stepping-stone for the bridge. (Map drawn by the Cartography class at Augustana College, Spring 2003, under the direction of Kathy Dowd)

eddy (ed’i), n., 1. moving against the current. 2. a departure from the main current of thought or life.

Celebrating River Action’s 9th Annual “EDDY” AWARDS 2009
To be awarded at a special Earth Day Ceremony, April 25, 2009!

The Eddy Awards will recognize individuals, organizations, companies, schools or governments for outstanding riverfront activity or development – well designed and environmentally responsible – in the following categories:

1. Education (innovations, program, curriculum)
2. Design (renovation, new buildings, livability)
3. River Activity (recreation, relaxation)
4. Arts (performance, written word, fine arts)
5. Stewardship (environmental enhancement of the river)
6. Revitalization (commerce, business, industry)

Email your nominations or CLICK HERE to download the nomination form.

Deadline for nominations is Jan. 23, 2009.

Please return nominations to:
River Action, 822 E. River Drive

The first cell phone based audio tour in the region

Many museum and walking tours in larger cities have embraced the cell based tour. Technology what it is you’d be hard-pressed to find pedestrians and cyclists on the trails who don’t carry a phone with them. The RiverWay Audio Tour is poised to capture the attention of Quad Citians and tourists with unique narrations that describe the area's role in national river history.

Currently there are two tours in place: "Bridge to Bridge" has stops on Arsenal Island, Davenport, and Rock Island in between the Government & Centennial Bridges, and the "Illinois Mississippi River Trail" has stops from the Sylvan Natural Area in Rock Island to Ben Butterworth Parkway in Moline. River Action plans to expand the available RiverWay Audio tours in the months to come with additional tours on both sides of the river.

• Be the first to dial up.
• Be the first to see the signs and maps.
• Be the first to try all the sites or hear all the stories.

To download the latest RiverWay newsletter, click on the image below.